The food arrived and the girls ate everything that was placed before them. They never argued, more like the girls they were once before. Amy could not believe her little girls were back, no more bickering, no more anything. They were perfect.

When the meal was done, Eric paid and drove them home. The girls remained quiet the whole drive home, bellies full and their eyes heavy. Amy reminded them they were both to take a bath and then go to bed. Neither girl argued. They both climbed out of the car and hurried into the house.

They were soon in bed, and talking excitedly about the new house, and having a room each again.

“I can’t believe how easily they accepted all this.”

He nodded. “About the secret the girls kept. I didn’t know about another woman either, with more children, I really didn’t know my brother at all.”

“I wish things were different,” she said, entwining her fingers through his.

“How so?”

“That I met you instead. You would never cheat on me. Or have all those woman on the go. Or get them all pregnant.”

“How many are there do you think?” Eric asked.

“I don’t know. I hope Penny, Glenda and this other woman are the only ones.”

“I hope so too. I can’t believe I have all these nieces that I’ve never met, that my brother never even told me about.”

“I know, maybe we should find out about…”

“We should, but that would mean asking the girls. If they know who she is. I don’t know if I should, but…”

“Let’s worry about that tomorrow, right now I think we should go to bed.”

“To bed?”

“Yes.”

“Together?”

“To soon?”

She shook her head, and stood, taking his hand and pulling him to stand before her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.“To bed,” he said, releasing her.

The girls did not even seem to notice that her mother was sharing the bed with their uncle, and it seemed neither cared.

The first morning and most mornings that followed, before the move, the girls would sneak in their bed for morning cuddles.

The new car had arrived, the girls and Amy loved it; she loved driving it even at night. She never liked night driving.

The search for the house began, not once did Eric suggest a price range. He wanted something they were all happy with. It had to have a bedroom each for the girls, two guest rooms and at least two or three bathrooms, and of course a good size kitchen.

Amy started officially at the Philip’s Toys, but she only worked a few hours, Eric wanted her to be by his side, Amy did not mind at first, liked that he was very protective of her. She worked in the test area some days, others she sat in on meetings, learning the business. Eric wanted her to be a part of the business, as she would become his Emily did not give her a second glance when she arrived for her first shift.

Penny made her feel welcome, and introduced her to many of the parents.On the weekend, Amy brought the girls in to play with the toys. Eric loved the way they looked at the toys, how they examined them, and explored them with interest.

House hunting had come down to three properties; they had plans to visit each one the following weekend.

“I thought we should go out for lunch and make a day of it when we look at the houses, what do you think?”

“I think I like that idea.”

The first house was much like the house Eric lived in now, but had a double garage. The rooms were all a good size, and it had two bathrooms, and a small downstairs toilet.

The garden on the other hand was smaller, and was mainly gravel. Amy shook her head when she saw the garden.

“I guess we could grass it…but…”

“If you don’t like it, we won’t even consider it. Everything has to be perfect.”

“Eric, I can compromise.”

“You don’t have to, not with me.”

He took her hand and led them to the car.

They drove to the second house.

“Mummy, Uncle Eric.”

“Yes,” they said in unison.

“Can we have a burger for dinner, with chips and a milkshake please?”

“That can be arranged.”

“And ice-cream?” Jane added.

“If you’re really good, okay?” Amy said.

They arrived at the second house, Amy stared at it. She shook her head; she did not want to even look inside.

“Not this one Eric, I can’t.”

The house was not the one she had lived in before, but it was close to the house she had lived in with Tom. Three doors down.

“Sorry, I never even thought that you would not want to. Anyway, okay, I will call and cancel this one. We will go eat and then go straight to the third one, is that okay with you guys?”

The girls cheered.

The food was pretty much like any other fast food joint, but tasted better than Amy recalled. Tom would never allow the girls to eat at such a place. She had on the odd occasion taken the girls when she was alone with them.

“When are you and uncle Eric getting married mummy?” Olivia asked.

Amy choked on the chip she was about to swallow and had to wash it down with a large mouthful of coke, but before she could reply, Eric did.

“I think maybe soon, if your mum agrees of course, but first we have things to do, like moving house. I think a bigger house is important and of course, and when we do, we are going to need some bridesmaids, not sure where we can get two of those.”

“Jane and I can do it mummy, I want to wear a pretty dress.”

“Well looks like you girls have decided for me, but we should move in to the new house first, once we find one. Now, I have a question to ask you two.”Eric looked over to her and smiled.

“It’s time they knew. They have a right to know.”

“I know, and okay.”

“Girls I want to ask you about the girl’s daddy took you to play with.”

“Okay,” Olivia said. “Lisa and Lucy, go to my school.”

“They do?”

“Yes, they are in my class.”

“They are?”

Olivia nodded.

“Have they always been in your class?”

Olivia shook her head.

“When did they join?”

“Monday.”

“Does their mum take them to school?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, can you show me who she is?”

“I can. Mummy are you mad at me?”

“No, why would I be mad?”

“I didn’t want to make you cross. Their mummy is cross, all the time, they told me.”

“Why would she be cross?”

“I don’t know, but they said she is always crying and shouting at them.”

“Okay, well I will sort it out for you, right now we should finish eating and go look at the next house.”

Eric drove towards the next house, a mile outside of the town they lived in, they drove down a country road and then they came to metal gates. Eric pushed the buzzer to let them know they were there. The gates opened and they drove towards down the road, which led to the house. A house that had the girls gasping in the seats behind them, Amy turned to face them, and smiled. The look on their faces, told her that if the outside was anything to go by, the inside would be so much more.

The front door opened and a man with grey hair welcomed them in, he showed them around talking a little about each room, as he showed them one after the other.

There were more rooms than Amy could image. It was double the home in size she had with Tom, and she was not sure she could allow Eric to buy it, as she had no money, but every time she tried to mention that, he told her that she was his family, and they would own the house together. Her name would be on the deeds.

“Girls, this is the one isn’t it?”

A month later, the last of the boxes sat in each room, ready to be emptied, the girls rooms were the first to be unpacked, as well as the kitchen. Amy could not believe how quickly the girls accepted her relationship with Eric, or how others had.

Amy was worried that Tom and Eric’s parents would find the whole situation odd. Yet when they had found the truth out about their son they were beyond angry. They were disappointed in their first born child. How could he do this to her, and how could he have kept those grandchildren away from them. They loved Amy’s girls, doted on them, and to be denied such a relationship with the twins and Hannah. They wanted to meet them, and that had led to a very awkward conversation in the playground one cold misty Monday morning. Eric had insisted her accompany her to meet the woman.

Amy had walked the girls into the playground, once they pointed out the woman with the twins, did Amy take a deep breath and walk over to her, with Eric beside her.

The woman looked up and stared at Eric, her mouth fell open. She apologised for staring, but could not believe how much he looked like her late fiancé.

Amy asked if she would like to go for coffee if she was free. She had no intention of making a scene or having every parent here staring at them as she told her exactly who she was.

They arrived at the café and once the drinks and cakes arrived did Amy begin.

“I first would like to give you my condolences on the loss of your fiancé, Tom.”

She stared at her for a moment, and then to Eric.

“You knew my Tom?”

“You could say that.”

“Are you his brother, because you look so much like him, you have his eyes.”

“I am his brother yes,” Eric replied.

“And you must be his wife.”

“Eric’s?”

“Yes.”

“No, but I will be.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” she said, it was half true he had told her she would be his wife, but he had not actually asked her and she was not about to tell this woman that. “But you misunderstand about Tom.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, Tom lived with me. We had the wedding and the life a married couple should have. How he managed a whole other family I don’t know.”“Are you trying to tell me that you and Tom were married?”

“Yes. Well, no, technically we were never married; he never divorced his first wife, Glenda, but we lived together, and had two children.”

Eric watched the two women with interest.

“You’re lying.”

“I wish I was.”

“Why would you do this, money? Is that what you want, because I can tell you now, he left me without a penny.”

“Well that makes two of us.”

“All he did was make sure we had a house. He told me the girls he brought when we met where his nieces, and that he brought them along because our girls would get on as they were family and…”

“They are family, but not cousins. They’re sisters.”

“Eric, if you are really his brother. Tell me this is not true?”

“I can’t.”

“Eric and I wanted to meet you, because you deserve to know the truth. He was nothing but a liar and a cheat. I don’t know how many more families he may have had. But I do know there is another mother and daughter out there. I’ve met them.”

“You have?”

“Yes, and I know you may not believe that any of this is true, but my girls know. They know that their dad kissed other ladies and did more….they lied to me for him. He told them it was their secret. That is the worst part about all this; he made the girls a part of it all.”

“I can’t believe this, I don’t want to, it makes sense though, it does, he would shower me us with gifts, and make sure we met every weekend, and some evenings he would come over to our house, but he could not stay, he told us, he was living with his soon to be ex-wife. That they had two older boys, and that as soon as they were old enough to understand, he would leave and marry me.”

“He left Glenda when the boys were young, and then he met Amy. He proposed to her six months later. They married six months after that.”

“That is true, but we know now, he was not my husband. But what happens now is up to you. This is not about him anymore; this is about us and our girls.”

“I don’t know what to say, this is a lot of information to take in, I mean I knew something felt off, but I loved him, and I thought he loved me.”

The two woman hugged, neither said another word, as they stood.

“I need time to digest this. Can we meet another day to decide where we go from here?”

Amy nodded and watched her leave. Eric placed a hand on her shoulder.“That went better than I expected.”

Amy agreed, he was right, it did.

A month later, Jennifer, the mother of the twins walked over to Amy in the playground.

“I am sorry that I took this long to get back to you, but I honestly didn’t know if what you told me was true.”

“I understand.”

“However, I do believe you. I do and the girls know now that your girls are their sisters. I told them at the weekend, I wanted to talk to them and…”

“They just accepted it?”

“Yes.”

“My girls did too.”

“So where do we go from here?”

“I honestly don’t know. Other than the girls should get time to be sisters outside of school.”

“I agree.”

“Okay, maybe we should make a day at the weekend for them to spend together, a Saturday, somewhere like the indoor play area.”

“I like that idea, okay we can do that.”

“I think if we meet at ten, they can play, eat and play a little longer.”

“Sure, okay, we can do that.”

“Okay, we will see you there at ten.”

Amy walked to her car and drove to Philip’s Toys. Parked her car beside Eric’s car. Entering the building she was greeted by those lingering in the reception area.

“Morning,” she said as she passed them and walked the route to Eric’s office. She passed the receptionist without asking if he was in. She lightly tapped on the door and entered.

“You left early this morning,” she said, as she walked in.

“Sorry,” he said walking over to her and placing a kiss on her lips.

“Are you free for lunch today?”

“Of course, I have a lot to do today, but always have time for you.”

“I have some other news for you too.”

“You do,” he said, stepping back.

“What is that look for?”

“Sorry, I thought you had that kind of news.”

“No, I’m not pregnant. If I was I would not tell you like this.”

“Sorry, what do you have to tell me?”

“Jennifer was ready to talk to me about the girls today.”

“Finally.”

“I know, but I can understand it was a lot to take in.”

“It was.”

Amy went on to tell him the plans for the girls to spend time together, she decided she should invite Penny and Hannah; after all she was their sister too. Eric agreed that she should too, and he wanted to be their too, after all they were all his nieces.

Saturday arrived, Amy was nervous, but she should not have been, they got on and even looked out for little Hannah.

“Looks like we had no need to worry.”

“You were worried?” Amy asked.

“A little, I mean now I know the truth. I was worried after they found out that their father was also the girl’s father that they played with at the park. They took it better than I thought they would.”

Amy nodded.

“I don’t know what I expected from all this,” she said. “But all our girls, Hannah too, should get to know each other, family is family.”

Amy nodded again.

“I just hope there is not another family out there we don’t know about.”

“I worried about that too,” Amy admitted.

“We would just have to deal with it. Sorry Eric, but your brother has a lot to answer to, if he was alive I would…”

“No need to apologise, my parents are disgusted by his behaviour and they understand that you need time to adjust to this, but they would like to meet the children.”

“I never even thought about that, I mean he never mentioned them, I assumed they were dead.”

“No, they are very much alive.”

“I don’t know what to say, this is all a lot to take in, but I am happy for the girls, because before they lost their dad, they had just me. Now we have…”“A family,” Amy said.

Jennifer put her hand on Amy’s. “Yes, a family.”

“I know this is too soon, but I think that we should all spend Christmas together, as a family, all of us. At least something good has come out of all of this.”

“Yes.”

“I love that idea,” Eric said. “If you are all willing, I would love it if you all came to us, we have room for you to stay or just come for the day, no pressure.”

“We have a good few months before you have decide, but I would be honoured if you would join us.”

“I think the girls would love it,” Penny said. “You can count us in. I don’t need time to think about it.”

“Okay.” Jennifer shook her head. “You’re right, the girls would love it, but we should plan the day together, we may have different ideas on how the day should go.”

“We can do that, besides this is our first as a couple too,” Amy said. “Anyway, should we order some food, I am starving.”

“Good idea,” Penny said.

“Yeah, let’s eat.”

The day ended on a high, the girls were full, excited and tired all at the same time. The moment they arrived home, they were falling asleep. They carried them to their rooms and tucked them into bed.

Once they were asleep, Amy made her way back down the stairs to the living room, where Eric sat waiting, a glass of wine sat on the table.

“None for me, I would prefer a nice got cup of tea, if that’s okay.”

“Sure, come sit, I’ll make you one.”

Tea made, Amy sipped at it, snuggled into arms.

“I can’t believe how things have changed.”

“Me either, but for the better, don’t you think?”

“Oh yes, for the better.”

Amy meant it, she was truly happy, often she wished that she had met Eric first, things would have been so different.

So far no other families had surfaced.

His parents met their grandchildren, delighted at being able to spoil more children. All they wanted was Eric to have some of his own, but Amy was not sure she wanted any more children yet.

She had not planned to have more; Eric she knew wanted a baby of his own, even if he loved her girls as if they were their his.

When she found her period was late, she was not sure how she would feel if she was indeed pregnant.

When a day a later her period arrived, she felt disappointed. She realised she wanted to have a child with Eric and when she told him, he pulled her towards her and told her they better start practicing. She giggled as he led her to their room and made love to her.

Seven months later, Christmas morning, the families gathered around the Christmas tree, it would be a day of joy for all of them. Amy handed Eric a small box with a red silk bow. He looked at her, his eyes shining with love.She watched him open it, and inside was a card, and on the card she had placed a pair of baby socks. She watched his reaction as he realised what the gift meant.

“Really?”

“Really!” she replied.

He stood and pulled her towards him, kissing her full on the lips as she pushed him off her, they realised everyone was watching them.

“A baby, you’re having a baby,” his mother said, pulling her towards her and hugging her. “Best Christmas ever.”

“It is,” Amy said.

The children busied themselves with playing games and with the toys they got from Santa. Amy watched the girls with interest, her hand on her belly, she hoped this baby would be a boy, she loved her girls but a boy would complete their family.

Tom’s older boys arrived for the cooked lunch, along with Glenda, as much as she disliked the woman, it was not her doing, not all of it. She no longer cared that she had her home. She had everything she wanted in this home, she had a man who loved her, and only her and a big family. On learning that Tom had more than just Amy and Glenda as his lovers, she was as angry as the other mums were.​They were family, and Tom was what connected them, but the love the girls had for each other showed them all that time was a healer and life went on. For all of them.

“You think because you’re screwing him, that it gives you the right to any job you want.”

“What is wrong with you? There is nothing going on between us.” Amy stepped back and shook her head. “I don’t care what you think or why it would bother you so much if I was.”

“Because he is mine, do you understand?”

“Yours?”

“Yes, mine and I don’t appreciate you sleeping with my man.”

Amy opened her mouth again to reply, when Eric entered the area as his voice echoed and bounced off the walls, telling her to go to her office.

She glared at Amy, as her face turned red and then rushed out of the door.

“Amy, would you mind waiting for me in the car. We’re going to take a long lunch, but first I have to deal with Emily,” he said handing her his keys. Penny watched her eyes widen and smiled at her with a knowing look.

Amy rolled her eyes and took the keys from his hand, not daring to touch his skin.

She walked through the building, her head down until she reached the reception and walked out to his car, unlocked it and sat inside. She waited for Eric to join her.

Twenty minutes later he did.

He climbed inside and took the keys from her hand, not saying a word as he started the car. He remained silent the whole journey, until he parked the car and turned to face her.

“Before you say anything I didn’t fire her, I should have, but, she works for me, not the other way around.”

“Eric, what she said, I…”

“About?”

“About me sleeping with you.”

“That you wouldn’t do that, because you still love Tom. I get that.”

“I did, do, but my feelings for him. It seems were not returned as much as I thought. It was an act. I don’t think he ever loved me.”

“He did love you, I know he did.”

“Then why was he seeing those other woman. Did you know Penny’s daughter is his?”

“She is?”

“You didn’t notice?”

“I didn’t want to believe it. He was my big brother. I told you I looked up to him, and…”

“He was a liar and everything we had was a lie. I am beginning to believe we were only together because of the girls.”

“No, don’t think that, I know he really loved you.”

“Loved me. He loved me that much he did more than flirt with every woman he met. Our marriage was fake, it was all for show. That trophy wife they all thought I was?”

“I’m sorry he did that to you,” he said, taking her hand, but she removed it. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine, but you can’t touch me like that, I…”

“Why?”

“Because, I can’t fall for you.”

“But you could?”

“Easily,” she admitted.

“Would it be wrong if we were sleeping together?”

“Of course it would be, you’re his brother, it would be…”

“What if I was in love with you?”

“Are you?”

“If I said, yes, would you believe me?”

“I can see it in your eyes, but…”

“Because I do and I’ve always loved you. My brother knew that. I saw you first, that night you met.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“When I saw you together. I knew I stood no chance. I never allowed my feelings to get in the way, until now.”

“Until now?”

“Yes. When my brother asked me to take care of you if he died, I of course agreed, not just because of how I felt for you, but I would do it for him, because he loved you. Not that either of us knew it would be this soon after I made the promise.”

“When did you make that promise?”

“On your wedding night.” He paused. “You looked beautiful that day; I could not keep my eyes of you. I wanted you as my wife.”

“Eric.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. I love you Amy and nothing is going to change that.”

“I don’t know what to say. I like you, but I don’t know if it’s because you are like him or because I miss him or…”

“I understand that, but even though I know all that I don’t care.”

“You would want me even if I was thinking of your brother?”

“I should say no, but I have kept my feelings for you quiet long enough. Now I can’t and won’t.”

“What did you say to Emily?” she said, attempting to change the subject as she could sense him looking at her, in a way that made her heart race.

“That our relationship is none of her business.”

“Eric, I thought I knew your brother. I loved him, but the more I find out about the man who I thought I had married, the more those feelings diminish. In his death I discovered the truth, but had he not died. Would I have discovered what he was?” she paused. “I will not tell the girls, they don’t need to know what their father did. To them he has to be the man they believed him to be.”

Amy was still talking when Eric leaned across the car and kissed her. At first she kissed him because she missed being kissed, but seconds later, the kiss was so much more. Her relationship with Tom had dwindled to sleeping only in the same bed. She had never told anyone, but it all made sense now.

He ended the kiss and stared at her.

“Sorry, I should never have done that, but…”

“Eric, take me home?”

He looked at her briefly and started the car. No words were spoken as he drove her to the house and parked outside his home. Had he not kissed her, she would not have allowed him to take her back to his and lead her to his room, where he kissed her again. She had not meant to allow this to happen, but he had awakened a fire inside her. One she had missed and even if she should not have thought it. She had a feeling they both knew it would; now she knew the truth. She was not nervous or ashamed of her body; she removed all her clothes and stood before him. He removed his own and then pulled her towards him, kissing her again.

If the woman at Philip’s Toys thought they were sleeping together, why not give in and just do it.

She never thought when his lips were on hers that she would feel anything at all. She had imagined she would think of the man she believed to be her husband, but the moment he touched her, Tom was as far from her thoughts. He lowered her on the bed and made love to her, thinking more about her pleasure than his own.

Tom in the beginning had been a passionate lover, but over the years their love making had been one sided, all about him. Nearer the end, it was over before it started. He barely touched her.

Eric made love to her and when they done, satisfied, they lay in his bed wrapped in each other’s arms, staring at each other.

He opened his mouth to speak.

“Don’t spoil it,” she said.

“I don’t want to, but I have to say it.” He stared at her, before he spoke again. “Amy I want you to be more than someone I sleep with, because I don’t want this to be a onetime thing. I want you in my bed every night and every morning. I want to wake up to see your face and make love to you every night. I want you as my wife, because you should have been mine from the start.”

“Eric.”

“I know, you need time, you need…”

“You,” she replied. “I need you; Eric, but I can’t be your wife.”

“Why not?”

“I need to know that this between us isn’t just sex.”

“For me, this is more than that, more than just sex.”

“I know, but you have to understand that as much as I know this feels right…”

“You’re also worried what others will think?”

“Maybe, but it is not just that. I, we have to think of the girls. What they think matters too.” She sat up in the bed, pulled the blanket to cover her naked body.

“You’re right,” he climbed out of the bed and pulled on his clothes.

“I should never allowed this to happen. I was being selfish.”

“No, don’t say that. This is as much my fault as it yours, but I don’t regret it. We did nothing wrong.”

“No, but I want you to be happy and if this isn’t what you want. I will stop this before it starts.”

“Don’t you dare do that? This is what I want,” she said, standing at his side, as she pulled him to her. “I want you, but we should take it one day at a time.”

“One day at a time,” he said, kissing her again. “I can do that, starting now.” He released her. “Get dressed. We should eat and then I need to get back to work.”

“Do you think I should come back with you?”

“No, by the time we eat. It will be time to collect the girls.”

“You’re right,” she said, getting dressed, his eyes on her the whole time.

“What about I make us something?”

He left half an hour after they ate.

As he walked out the door, she filled the sink with hot water and began to clean the kitchen. Her mind on him, the girls and what others would think when they found out that they were together.

Maybe they should keep it quiet, but why should they. Tom had not divorced his first wife and slept with Penny and they had a child together. She owed him nothing. He had lied to her. Any love she felt for him left her with each lie she heard.

She had not meant to fall for Eric.

Tom over the years had made her feel second to everything. To their children she understood, but she was second when it came to everything else, because maybe he was still seeing his first wife, his only wife, and possibly Penny. She had no idea how many more women he had been seeing. Had he ever loved her? Amy was not sure; she wished she had found out the truth when he was still alive. It was unfair for him to have treated her the way he had.

Placing the cups and plates away, she wished now she had met Eric first. He said he loved her and had made love to her thinking more of her than himself. Tom barely touched her once she had the girls. Of course, now she knew why.

The clock on the wall ticked silently as she finished cleaning the kitchen. She looked up at the clock one more time, realising she would need to pick the girls up in less than forty minutes.

Pulling on her coat, she made her way to the door, opened it to find Eric pulling up in the driveway.

She looked at him, and tilted her head.

“I realised you don’t have a key, and your car has been playing up, so I will take you. Afterwards we are getting you a key cut and a new car. No arguments.”

“A key is fine, but a car??”

“I won’t allow you to drive around in an unsafe car, besides it’s more for my niece’s safety.”

“Okay, if it’s for my daughter’s safety, I will accept, but only one condition.”

“What is that then?”

“I get to pick the car?”

“Fine.”

The girls were excited about their uncle picking them up. They held his hand, chatting to him the whole time. The looks on the faces of the other parents she knew would cause the rumours to start. Amy listened to the girls as they chatted to Eric as they walked to the car and insisted he buckle them in. He drove them to the key cutting shop, had two sets of keys made and then drove her to a car dealership.

Together they entered the lot and walked around, the girls holding his hands.

The prices before would never have been something she looked at, but now she looked at every price, every detail, because it was not her money she was spending. It was his, she had nothing. She inhaled and found a car that she could allow him to buy. She checked it inside and out.

“Girls, what do think?”

The girls nodded, Amy was not sure the girls understood what they were being asked, but she liked the car. It was small, and practical.

“I think we can do better, Amy, this car is nice, but how about this one?” he walked her to a newer version of the car she had chosen; it was nearly double the price.

“The other one was just fine, but…”

“We will take this one,” Eric said, leading the man away to fill in the paperwork, as she stared at the car. Her old one was not new; Tom had brought her a second hand one, due to her only passing her test a few months after Olivia was born, four years before. It had been a good car to her, and until recently had started first time. This car it seemed was brand new, she realised had it had no miles on the clock. Tom would never have allowed her a brand new car. Just in case she crashed it, or hit something, he had said she would, as woman drivers were all the same. To busy staring at themselves in the mirror. She was a careful driver, she had the girls in the car and always drove watching the road, only looked in the mirror when she needed to.

The car would be ready the next day, as they needed to tax and insure it. She did not like to admit she was a little more than excited by the idea of a new car.

The girls were as excited as she was and could not wait to have their first drive in it.

“Eric, thank you again for the car.”

“No need to thank me,” he said, standing behind her. So close she could feel his breath on her neck.

“Eric,” she whispered.

“Sorry, I can’t help it.”

“We need to talk to the girls, if we are really going to do this.”

“If?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do, but when will be the right time?”

“I don’t know.” She sighed.

“Okay, maybe now is too soon. We don’t want them to find us in the same bed without telling them first.”

“You thought I would be sharing your bed?”

“I…”

“Don’t think I don’t want to, but I am not sure the girls would fully understand,” she said, placing her hand on his chest.

“Are you going to kiss Uncle Eric?” Olivia asked, making them jump apart.Amy turned to find her daughters watching them. It seemed they saw and knew more than she realised.

“Why would you say that?” she had no idea what to say.

“Would it be okay if I did?” Eric asked.

Olivia nodded. “Daddy wouldn’t mind, he kissed lots of ladies.”

“He did?” Amy asked her mouth wide open.

“It was our secret, daddy said I should never tell, but he’s not here anymore and…” she ran into her mother’s arms and cried.

Amy hushed her daughter telling her it was fine, she had nothing to be sorry for. Holding her in her arms.

“Yes,” Amy said, as she sat the girls on the sofa with her, Eric sat beside them.

“Daddy sometimes took us to the park on Sunday?”

“I know…did you not go to the park?”

“We did, sometimes.”

“But…”

“We met our sisters there.”

“Sisters?”

“Yes, they are my age, their mummy met daddy there, sometimes we went to a place with a bed. He kissed her, a lot, and …”

“I don’t think you need to remember that honey, but can I ask you one question?”

Olivia and Jane nodded.

“Was their only one lady?”

Both girls shook their heads.

“Okay, but mainly the one lady?”

Both nodded. Amy took a long deep breath and looked into her daughters eyes.

“You know daddy loved you both very much. Maybe he did not love me as much as I once loved him. I don’t want you to ever think I never loved your father.”

The girls remained silent.

“But it is true, I like your Uncle Eric. I wanted to ask you if it would okay if maybe we…”

“Kissed?” Olivia said.

“I guess that is part of my question.”

“What would you girls think if your mum and I brought a house, one where you had a bedroom each again?”

Amy turned to look at him, they had not discussed anything more than seeing if they felt more than lust, but they were telling the girls.

The girls screamed with excitement.

“I take that you like that idea?”

Both nodded.

“Good, we will start looking tomorrow. Right now I bet you two are very hungry.”

“We are.” They agreed.

“Okay, well, I have to pop back to work, but not for long. How about on my way back I grab us some take out.”

“Can I come with you?”

“Uncle Eric is a busy man, Olivia, he won’t be long.”

“It’s okay, actually why don’t we all go, we can go out to eat. A celebration of sorts, to new beginnings maybe.”

“Okay,” Amy said, staring at her daughters. The moment they told them the news, in a roundabout way, something in them changed. Amy noticed it; maybe it was the secrets they had been keeping.​“When we get back, you two need to take a bath okay, then straight to bed.”

The moment they were alone again in his office did he suggest the job offer.

“A month’s trial, how about that.”

“I don’t know.”

“Amy, I think you would do well here. You can start after the school run and finish before you need to pick them up or we can take turns to collect them. I usually finish at five, but being the boss, I can arrange it so we can take it in turns.”

“Eric, slow down. You don’t need to do that, you have done more than enough for us.”

“Amy, I know you want to do what is right for you and the girls, but I want you to know. Moving out should not be at the top of your list.”

“It should be.”

“It certainly shouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“Because my home is your home. But if you do decide to buy, or even rent a place. You’re going to need a deposit?”

“You’re right. I’m going to a deposit.”

“I can help with that.”

“No, I won’t allow it.”

“Won’t allow?”

“No, Eric. You have taken us into your home. That is more than enough.”

“Not after what my brother did.”

“That is not your fault, or your responsibility.”

“To me it is. My brother, the man I looked up to. The man who I had wanted to be just like, was a liar.”

Amy nodded, understanding exactly what he meant.

“He had everything, a beautiful wife,” he said, as she blushed.

“Don’t say that.”

“Why, it’s the truth.”

“Because…”

“Amy,” he took her hand and held it firmly. “I think you are very attractive and I can’t help the way you make me feel.”

“Eric.”

“What?”

“This, it’s not right.”

“I know,” he said dropping her hand. “I should never have said that, ignore it.”

“I can’t, this is a bad idea, all of it. The job, the house, I…”

“Take the job, at least until you find something else. Stay at mine until we find you somewhere else to go, somewhere suitable.”

“I don’t have much choice, do I?”

“No, you don’t. You can start tomorrow at nine if you like?”

“Okay, but I don’t think I should work that closely with you. Maybe I should do something else.”

“What about in the testing area?”

“I could do that.”

“I think it’s perfect too, just to remind you, that I do come down there now and again.”

“I know, and that will be fine,” she said. “Right now, I should go, leave you to it. I am sorry to ask, but could I possibly have a key to your house.”

“Sure, but I don’t have a spare on me, I will get one cut for you. If you like you could hang around for a little while and I’ll run you home in my lunch hour.”

“Thank you. Maybe I could stay; learn more about what the job is all about.”

“That is a good idea, I will take you back down, introduce you to the others.”

Amy nodded, suddenly feeling nervous and anxious.

As the door opened, the noise level hit her again as they entered. The sound of laughter, chatting and the toys being explored filled the area. The women were all watching them again as he led her towards the small office.

He pushed the door open and at a desk sat a woman, with blonde hair, her roots were dark brown, telling Amy she was not a natural blonde. She looked up and smiled as she saw Eric, but as she turned to look at Amy, her smile faded.

“Emily this is Amy; she will be starting tomorrow, officially. I thought she could be shown the ropes today.”

“You can leave her in my capable hands.”

“Good, I will check in later.”

“You will?”

“Yes.”

He turned to leave and closed the door on his way out.

“Amy is it?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know what job Eric thinks I am going to give you here. He should know I have no position for you.”

“So you are saying?”

“That he is wrong, we don’t have a job for you.”

“I don’t understand, Eric said.”

“Eric said; let me explain something to you here. Eric may be the boss overall, but down here, in this department I call the shots. And I can tell you now; there is no job for you.”

“You can’t do that.”

“I can. I will deal with Eric; he should never have told the likes of you, a job was available.” She said. “Now you can leave the same way you came in.”

Amy opened her mouth to argue, but it seemed the woman had made up her mind. She walked out of the office, determined not to cry. She could not allow this woman to break her. Instead she ignored her and walked over to one of the areas that Eric had shown her earlier.

“Hi, I like that. What do you have there?” Amy asked, bending down to the child’s level. In her hand she had a small wooden boat. It had slots to place shapes in.

“Who are you?” the woman with the child asked.

“Sorry, I am Amy, I’m new.”

“So new you have no clue on how things work around here. You do realise you are meant to speak to me first, not the child.”

“Sorry, the woman in the office didn’t want to show me the ropes. I apologise.”

“It’s fine. It’s just there are rules.”

“Okay,” Amy said, extending her hand to the woman’s. “I am Amy, I have two little girls myself, and today is my first day.”

“Nice to meet you Amy, this is Freddie.”

“Nice to meet you Freddie, that looks like a fantastic toy, can I play too?”

He nodded, as Amy sat on the floor with the child, he handed her a piece which she attempted to place through a slot. The child giggled as she purposely failed to push it through.

“I think you better try Freddie.” She handed him the piece, which he expertly placed in the hole. “Wow you are an expert at these, clever boy.”Amy left the little boy ten minutes later, and joined another area, this time introducing herself to the parent. One of the woman recalled her from the morning visit with Eric.

“Are you working here now?” Penny asked.

“I am.”

“How did you manage that one, or are you sleeping with your husband’s brother.”

“No I am not, why would you think that.”

“The way he was looking at you. Some of us have tried and got nowhere. If we’re honest we thought he was gay.”

“Yet you still kept on trying.”

“Can’t help it,” she said. “Tom and Eric were very much alike.”

“Is that right. Are you saying the women here flirted with him too?”

“I couldn’t say.”

“I can imagine you ladies did. Or are you trying to tell me he did more than just flirt?”

“I couldn’t say.”

“No, I bet you couldn’t,” she said, looking down at Penny’s daughter.

“No, I couldn’t.”

“I should have realised earlier,” she said, staring at her. “She looks just like them.”

“Like who?”

“My daughters.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“You know what I am saying. I am really having my eyes opened wide today.”

“I should deny it, that Tom and I did nothing but flirt.”

“Why bother.”

“I should apologise, because it only happened once and…”

“I don’t care if it was once or a hundred times, and I should be angry with you, but as I am realising that he was not the man I thought I had married.”

“You were his wife?”

“I thought I was, turns out I was not married to him at all. We had the wedding, but he never divorced his first wife. It was one lie after the other and now this.”

“I am sorry, I could have lied and said Eric was her father.”

“Had you told me that, I may have believed you.”

She had no idea why she was telling her the truth, once she had started, the rest came tumbling out.

“It seems I had no idea who he was.”

“He was a jerk. That was what he was. I am sorry. I didn’t love him, I just enjoyed his company and…”

“I don’t want to know.”

“Sorry I…”

Amy tilted her head and sighed heavily realising one more thing, their girls were related. A sudden thought occurred to her, did Tom provide for this child, or was the job her mother held, part of their deal?”

“Before you ask, I am not after a pay-out. Tom brought us a home and even made sure that I had a job here, forever, or at least until our daughter turns eighteen.”

“Lucky you.”

“Sorry, but didn’t Tom make sure you were taken care of, in the event of…”“I would have thought so, but in his will he left it to his wife and…”

“Wasn’t you, so is that why you’re working here?”

“You could say that.”

“At least you have a home and your kids have a roof over their head.”

“Yes, at least we have that,” she lied.

A bell rang and the children all stood, tided away the toys before dragging their parents to the door.

“It’s lunch time, the kids eat and then we go home. The children are only allowed to do half days; you will find that the afternoon children are more hyper. We used to do that shift, but…”​The office door opened and the blonde stormed across the floor. She stood before Amy, her face told her she was not happy.

Apologies for the delay, due to having no Internet since boxing day. Finally I now have it, and been sorting out a laptop my sister gave me so that I could update my blog and everything I needed.

So that brings me back to now, meaning I will be adding the final parts of the Xmas story, which I again apologise for the lateness of it. I will post the next part very soon and the rest as and when I can.